New Paltz, NY — About seven minutes into the second half, the State University of New York at New Paltz saw its 11-point cushion to start the period dwindle to a stalemate, as visiting Buffalo State worked its way to a tied contest. The Hawks didn't press or panic, but instead answered with a 15-2 run that opened up the game, which ultimately facilitated the eventual, 83-64 victory.

"We really put an emphasis on just being poised," said Hawks senior Tristan Wissemann. "In previous games that may have been the tipping point where we fold or the other team builds a lead after we had the lead at first, but I am really proud of our whole team for just keeping it together, especially the young guys, RJ [Meyers-Turner] and Isaiah [Bien-Aise]. They played major minutes tonight and they really showed some good growth."

SUNY New Paltz put an end to a five-game losing streak and picked up its first State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) win, along with its first victory of the New Year to help with playoff hopes.
 

"We're obviously happy to win. It has been awhile, but there is definitely an exhale at this point," said Hawks coach Keith Kenney. "We felt like we played better the last two games, so we're not surprised we played good tonight. We definitely have to get ready for tomorrow, but we felt like we deserved it and it's a good feeling."

The Hawks were in control early, taking a 17-point advantage following a put-back on his own attempt by Scott Reisert with just less than eight minutes to play in the half. The Bengals started gaining momentum toward the end of the first, going on a 20-8 stretch before Reisert knocked down a trey at the top of the arc to bring SUNY New Paltz's cushion to eight at halftime.

Buffalo State put pressure on the Hawks to begin the final 20 minutes after Wissemann knocked down a 3 to bring his team's lead to 11. The Bengals totaled four steals within the first five minutes of the second half, recording eight of their opening 10 points of the period from steals that turned into baskets on the ensuing possession. Buffalo State's Sheldon Adam capitalized again off an Aaron Davis steal with a fast-break bucket to cut SUNY New Paltz's lead to four. Jake Passaretti answered with a made basket from the perimeter, but the Bengals proceeded on a 7-0 run to tie the score at 54.
The game stayed tied for about a two-plus minute stretch before Passaretti broke up the stalemate with a bucket in the paint. The Hawks adjusted to the Bengals pressure and began to find their groove offensively, quickly moving the ball around to open up spots in Buffalo State's zone.

Off a defensive rebound by Passaretti, SUNY New Paltz pushed and found Wissemann in the corner for 3. After the Bengals answered with a bucket, Meyers-Turner picked up his second-consecutive assist, this time to Reisert. He added another helper on the following offensive possession, again assisting Wissemann in the corner for another trey to boost the lead to nine. Reisert then started taking over on the glass. He snatched an offensive board off a Wissemann attempt from distance and added two more points from the paint. The next time down the floor, Isaiah Bien-Aise helped Reisert to another basket underneath to push the advantage to 11.

"That's something we struggled with all year. We kind have been talking about that the last week or two, just not losing our poise when things go wrong and honestly thought the three older guys, Jake, Scott and Tristan, kind of led the way with that," Kenney said. "They kind of settled everybody down and then we got a really good boost from Isaiah off the bench. I didn't think he was going to play the rest of the half with an injury, but he came back and was a huge boost. Basketball wise, we just changed up what we were doing against their zone. We started scoring off of it and I think that is what changed it and then we started playing a little zone as well. So yeah, we made some adjustments and the guys took it home."

SUNY New Paltz continued to move the ball well, which helped flex its advantage further, as Passaretti skipped a nice pass to Wissemann in the opposite corner for another 3-ball to boost the difference to 14 with less than three minutes to go. Bien-Aise hit a shot from behind the arc and Passaretti added a pair of baskets down the stretch with the Hawks then hitting 3-of-6 from the line to put the Bengals away for good.
 
Wissemann was the catalyst, especially in the second half. He finished with a game-high 25 points, shooting 9-for-15 on the night, including an impressive 6-for-8 from 3-point range. The senior had struggled earlier in the season with his shooting touch, but has paced his team offensively for the fourth time in the last six games. He was happy to do so again Friday in a win, which also comes on his mom's birthday so the pressure was on to have a good night.

"It definitely felt great. In the beginning of the season, I wasn't really shooting the way I wanted to," said Wissemann. "But I just stayed after it, stayed in the gym and worked a lot with Coach Kenney individually and they are all starting to fall. And it is my mom's birthday today, so I had to go get a win for her."

SUNY New Paltz had its most efficient shooting performance of the season, making 53.4 percent from the field, while having four players reach double-figure points. Reisert followed Wissemann with a season-high 18 points and 10 rebounds to register his second double-double of the season, while also adding three block and an assist to hit stat line. Passaretti added 15 points, a season-high eight assists and eight rebounds, while Bien-Aise finished with 13 points, five rebounds and two assists in 24 minutes of action after taking a hard flagrant foul midway through the first half.

The Hawks are back on their home floor Saturday to take on Fredonia State, which fell to Oneonta Friday, 81-40. A win over the Blue Devils would put SUNY New Paltz a game shy of the sixth spot in the conference standings.

"This win feels amazing. We really needed it just to boost our spirits up a little bit," Wissemann added. "We had that long losing streak, but [it's a ] free game for that sixth spot in the playoffs. There are five teams in the hunt for it and we are one of those teams. This win definitely helped our chances for it, hopefully we can go get another tomorrow."

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